Compression type dispensing device



Jan. 15, 1957 R. E. BENSEN COMPRESSION TYPE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 15. 1951 INVENTOR. Rzchard E. Bensen BY au Jzaamaw Aiiorney "nied States This havention relates to a dispensing device and more particularly to a containing device which is adapted to be flexed for the dispensing of a substance.

A well known and much used device for dispensing viscous or semi-solid substances is the collapsible type metal foil container; for example, the type of container commonly used for tooth pastes. The present invention is a non-collapsible type container for dispensing viscous or semi-solid substances having a resilient outer tube which may be of plastic or rubber composition and an internal displaceable diaphragm member. To operate, the resilient outer tube is compressed, which results in the contained substance being dispensed through an outlet orifice. When this compressive force is removed, the resiiient outer tube assumes its original position. This action n' y be repeated without loss of dispensing efliciency until all the contained substance is dispensed.

Many of the advantages of the invention over the presently used containers may be seen to reside in the use of a non-metallic material which may be more readily obtained, is less expensive in cost, can be handled with less care than tin foil containers, can be compressed to save space when being shipped to a filling location, can be flattened to allow printing by ordinary means on the outer .irface thereof without the least damage, and lends itself to high speed production methods. Other advantages of the invention areinherent in its high operational efficiency and practicability.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved dispensing device making unnecessary the use of metallic materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container which can be easily and economically shipped and handled without damage before or after the container has been filled with the substance to be dispensed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device which has an outer surface readily adaptable to ordinary printing processes.

Yet another obg'ect of the invention is to provide a new and improved dispensing device most efficiently expelling a contained substance of high or low viscosity, easily controlling the quantity of material dispensed, and expelling substantially all of the material contained therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved dispensing device which is inexpensive, readily constructed and easily operated.

Another, object of theinvention is to provide a new and improved dispensing device which may be refilled and reused.

The above and further objects and aspects of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a device embodying the invention,

Figure v2 is a sectional view through the lines 2-2 of Figure 1,

:nt "lie 2,777,612 Patented Jan. 15, 1957 Figure 3 is a front view showing another embodiment in modified form of the invention, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the lines 4-4 of Figure 3.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 which show a dispensing device including the invention, the numeral 10 represents a hollow tubular body made of a flexible and resilient material, as, for example, many well known substances of plastic composition or other materials having like properties.

One of the extremities of tubular body 10 is sealed along an edge 11 by any of the well known methods which include the use of an adhesive substance as well as thermoplastic sealing using high frequency heatin". The other extremity of the body 10 receives an orificed body 12 which may be a molded or cast plastic form. The body 12 has an outlet orifice 13 communicating with the internal cavity or chamber formed within the tubular body It? and may have a threaded portion 14 adapted to r ceive a cap to enclose the orifice 13. The orificed body 12 may similarly be fixedwithin the extremity of the tubular body it by use of an adhesive substance or by thermoplastic seahng with high frequency heating methods as well as by other means.

The tubular body 10 also has an inlet orifice 16 communicating with its inner cavity or chamber.

Referring specifically to Figure 2, a displaceable body or diaphragm member 18 which may be of a flexible impervious plastic or rubber composition, has one of its extremities enclosed while its other extremity is open. The diaphragm member 18 which lies within the cavity of tubular body 19 has its open end sealed at 19 to the inner surface of said tubular body 10 along a closed line in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said tubular body it The dimensions of the diaphragm member 13 together with the sealing location 19 of its open extremity is such that diaphragm member 18 may lie adjacent the lower inner surface of said tubular body 10 when assuming one of its two terminal positions, and may lie adjacent the upper inner surface of the tubular body 19 when said diaphragm member 18 assumes its second terminal position. It is noted that when the diaphragm member 18 passes from one of its terminal positions to its other terminal position, it reverses itself, the closed extremity of the diaphragm member 18 passing through its open extremity.

The diaphragm member 18 partitions the cavity within the device into two chambers 26 and 21. It may be seem that the orifice 16 in the Wall of the tubular body 10 communicates with the lower chamber 20, whereas the orifice 13 in the body 12 communicates with the upper chamber 21.

It is also noted that the volume of the lower chamber 2%} is minimized when the diaphragm member 18 assumes its first terminal position lying along the inner surface of the lower part of said tubular body 10 while the upper chamber 21 has its volume maximized. Conversely, when the diaphragm member 18 is reversed to assume its second terminal position, the volume of the lower chamber 20 is .raximized and the volume of the upper chamber 21 is minimized. The ratio of the volumes or" the chambers 2t? and 21 varies with the position of the diaphragm between its terminal positions.

The chamber 21 is adapted to contain a dispensable substance 22 for expulsion through the orifice 13 of the body 12. The device may be filled with the substance 22 to be dispensed, which may be a semi-solid, liquid, fluid, or any other extrudible substance. With the diaphragm member in its first terminal position, maximizing the volume of chamber 21, substantially the entire cavity within the tubular body It may be filled.

The cp tai ed suhsta ce will be expelled through the orifice 13 of body 12 as the volume of the chamber 21 is reduced by the displacement of the diaphragm member 18 from its first terminal position toward its second terminal position. The dashed lines in Figure 2 indicate the first and second terminal positions of the diaphragm 15. as well as severalintermediary positions of the diaphragm member 18 in the process of its reversal.

The operation of the dispensing device shown in Figures 1 and 2 will now be described in greater detail. Assuming the dispensing device to be filled to capacity with the diaphragm member 18 in its first terminal position, the contained substance 22 is expelled through the orifice 1 3 of the body 12 when pressure is exerted upon the walls of the flexible resilient tubular body 11? by compressing between the forefinger and thumb'of the hand. Figure 1 shows a hand 1'7 gripping the outer surface of the tubular body it) with the thumb placed Over the orifice 16. As compressive force is exerted, the walls of the tubular body 19, as well as the diaphragm 7 member 18, are displaced reducing the volume of the chamber 21 containing the substance to be dispensed. With this reduction in volume the substance 22 is extruded through the orifice 13 of the body 12. When deforming pressure is released from the walls of the tubular body and the orifice 16 is unrestricted, air enters the chamber 20 through the orifice 16 and the walls of the resilient tubular body 10 reassume their original uncompressed configuration. The diaphragm member 18, however, does 7 back toward its first terminal position. Such action would 7 reduce the efficiency of expulsion of dispensable material 22. With use of the orifice 16 this action is negligible, especially when the dispensed material does not have a low viscosity.

The substance 22 contained within the device is expelled when the dispensing device is substantially full mainly by the direct contact compressive action of the tubular body 10 upon the diaphragm member 1 8 which is in its first terminal position. After the first displacement of the diaphragm member 18, the next displacement of the diaphragm member 18 with compression of the tubular body 10 becomes increasingly diificult and inefiicient if the above direct contact compressive action is relied upon. The features of the invention may now be seen, wherein the efficiency of expulsion of material by the compression of the tubular body 10 is maintained at its highest point.

it is observed that when the tubular body 19 is compressed with the thumb restricting the orifice 16, the resulting pressure build-up in the chamber 20 is exerted upon the diaphragm member 18. This results in its displacement and the reduction of the volume in the chamber 21 along with the expulsion of dispensable material 22 through the outlet orifice 13. When the compressive force exerted is released from the walls of the tubular body 10 and the orifice 16 is unrestricted, the original configuration of the body it is assumed with the intake of air to the chamber 2%; through the inlet orifice 16. With the reduction of volume in chamber 21 and displacement of diaphragm member 13, the volume of chamber 20 is increased.

The dispensing device is now again ready for use. It is noted that the eiiiciency of the expulsion of material with the compression of the tubular body lltl remains constant, the same amount of substance 22 being extruded for similar deformations of the tubular body 10 upon compression.

As contained substance 2-2 is dispensed rrom the device, the diaphragm member 3.3 moves progressively towards its second terminal position reversing itself by passing through its open extremity which is sealed to the inside surface of the tubular body til. it is further noted that with diaphragm member 18 in its second terminal position the volume of the chamber 21 is practically reduced to zero causing substantially all of the contained material to be dispensed.

The d pe d v s m y be r led a d mused etcdly. eter now to Figures 3 and {l which show an embodiment of the invention in a modified term; A hollow tubular body 3%), which may be similar to that of body it) in Figure 1, is likewise sealed along an edge 31 at one of its extremities. its other extremity receives a valved body 32. The extended portion or" this body 32 provides an outlet valve 34 normally restricting an orifice 33 by the close proximity of retaining walls encompassing this orifice 33. Substance 42 retained within body 319 will be expelled through the valve 34 by the pressure exerted by this substance. This pressure causes the retaining walls of the valve 34 to separate, thereby enlarging the orifice 33. Air or other external substance will not be allowed to enter through the orifice 34 when external pressure is higher than internal pressure because this pressure differential tends to restrict the orifice 33.

The walls of the tubular body 36 are also provided with an intake valve 36 only allowing the Passage of air into the cavity of the tubular bodySQ; This valve 36 is well known to the art, being of the type having a movable ball which assumes a position allowing air to flow through the valve when a pressure differential is in one direction, and assumes another position restricting the valve when the pressure difierential is in the opposite direction.

A displaceable body or diaphragm member 38 within 7 the cavity of the tubular body '30 is made of a thin walled flexible material which may be impervious. For example, any of the well known plastic or rubber materials may be used. I

The diaphragm member 38 which is of tubular configuration may have one of its extremities sealed with and fixed to the end of the tubular body 30 along its edge 31. i

The other extremity of the tubular diaphragm member 38 may be sealed to the upper end of the tubular body 30 preferably between the valved member 32 and the inner surface of the tubular body 30'shown at location 35 The diaphragm member 38 partitions the cavity within the device into a first chamber 40 communicating with the inlet valve 36 and a second chamber 41 c'ommunicat-.

ing with the outlet valve 34. Itis also noted that the diaphragm member 38 may assumea first terminal position in which it lies adjacent'theinside surfaces of the tubular body 30. Inthis case aisvomme of the first chamber 40 is reduced to a whereas the volume of the second chamber4l is maximixed. The second terminal positionis ass'umed by the diaphragm member 38 when its inside surfaces are positionedadjacent each other. This thefvolunie of'th'e first chambe'r 44), while the volume of the second chamber 41. i i

The chamber 41 is adapted to contain the dispensable material 42 for expulsion by means of o'utletvalve 34 through its orifice'33. When the dispensing device is full, the diaphragm member 38 is in its first terminal position the volume of the chamber 41. It is also here noted that the dispensing device has high concontaining efficiency utilizing substantially its entire cavity. i

Considering now the operation of the device shown in Figures 3 and 4, compression of the tubular" body 30 results in the restriction of the valve and the build-up of pressure in the chamber 40. it The pressure in chamber 40 acts upon the diaphragm member 33 displacing it to decrease the volume of chamber'41 causing the expulsion of substance 42 through the outlet valve 34.

When pressure is released from the tubular body 30, valve 36 is unrestricted by the reduction of pressures within the chamber 40. The air passing into the chamber 40 equalizes pressures and allows the tubular body 30 to resume its original uncompressed configuration.

With the reduction of pressure Within the chamber 40, which also results in reducing the pressure upon the substance in chamber 41, substance 42 is no longer expelled through outlet valve 34. The valve 34 now acts to prevent the passage of air into the chamber 41. This is of advantage when the substance 42 being dispensed has a low viscosity, in which case there is a greater tendency for the passage of air into the chamber 41 with the reduction of pressure therein.

As more and more material is dispensed by the device, the volume of chamber 41 is decreased with the flattening of the diaphragm member 38 as it is compressed into a ribbonlike'form. This forces the dispensable substance 42 into the upper portions of the device towards the outlet valve 34. Progressive stages of the flattening of the diaphragm member 38 are shown by the dashed lines of Figure 4. p

It is evident that much of the explanation given with regard to the device of Figures 1 and 2 is also applicable to the present description.

The present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular outer configuration of the device which may have been chosen in this instance for purposes of illustration, nor is it intended that theinvention be limited to the modifications specifically shown and described as an embodiment of the invention.

While only a few representative embodiments for practicing the invention disclosed herein have been outlined in detail, there will be obvious to those skilled in the art, many modifications and variations accomplishing the foregoing objects and realizing many or all of the advantages, but which yet do not depart essentially from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dispensing device; a resilient and flexible body enclosing a chamber, and having first and second orifices; and a conuollably reversing diaphragm member within said chamber having an enclosed displaceable extremity and an open extremity secured to said body intermediate its ends and partitioning said chamber into first and second sections respectively communicating with said first and second orifices; said diaphragm member being positioned to assume two complementarily similar terminal positions by the reversing of said diaphragm member by having its enclosed displaceable extremity pass through its open secured extremity; said first terminal position minimizing the volume of said second section While said second terminal position minimizes the volume of said first section of said chamber; said first section being adapted to contain a dispensable substance for expulsion through said first orifice upon displacing of said member toward said second terminal position; said member being displaced toward said second terminal position upon the restricting or said second orifice and compressing of said body.

2. In a dispensing device; a resilient and flexible body enclosing a chamber, and having first and second orifices; and a controllably reversing diaphragm member within said chamber having an enclosed displaceable extremity.

and an open extremity secured to said body intermediate its ends and partitioning said chamber into first and second sections respectively communicating with said first and second orifices; said diaphragm member being positioned to assume two complementarily similar terminal positions by the reversing of said diaphragm member by having its enclosed displaceable extremity pass through its open secured extremity; said first terminal position minimizing the volume of said second section while said second terminal position minimizes the volume of said first section of said chamber; said first section being adapted to contain a dispensable substance for expulsion through said first orifice upon displacing of said member toward said second terminal position; said member being progressively and cumulatively displaced toward said second terminal position with each restricting of said second orifice and compressing of said body.

3. In a dispensing device; a resilient and flexible body adapted to be compressed by hand enclosing a chamber,

and having first and second orifices; and a controllably reversing diaphragm member within said chamber having an enclosed displaceable extremity and an open extremity secured to said body intermediate its ends and partitioning said chamber into first and second sections respectively communicating with said first and second orifices; said diaphragm member being positioned to assume two complementarily similar terminal positions by the reversing of said diaphragm member by having its enclosed displaceable extremity pass through its open secured extremity; said first terminal position minimizing the volume of said second section while said second terminal position minimizes the volume of said first section of said chamber; said first section being adapted to contain a dispensable substance for expulsion through said first orifice upon displacing of said member toward said second terminal position; said member being displaced toward said second terminal position upon the restricting of said second orifice by hand with the compressing of said body by said hand.

4. in a dispensing device; a resilient and flexible body adapted to be compressed by hand enclosing a chamber, and having first and second orifices; and a controllably reversing diaphragm member Within said chamber having an enclosed displaceable extremity and an open extremity secured to said body intermediate its ends and partitioning said chamber into first and second sections respectively communicating with said first and second orifices; said diaphragm member being positioned to assume two complementarily similar terminal positions by the reversing of said diaphragm member by having its enclosed displaceable extremity pass through its open secured extremity; said first terminal position minimizing the volume of said second section while said second terminal position minimizes the volume of said first section of said chamber; said first section being adapted to contain a dispensable substance for expulsion through said first orifice upon displacing of said member toward said second terminal position; said member being progressively and cumulatively displaced toward said second terminal position with each restricting of said second orifice by hand with the compressing of said body by said hand.

5. In a dispensing device; a resilient and flexible body enclosing a chamber, and having first outlet and second inlet valves; and a controllably reversing diaphragm member within said chamber having an enclosed displaceable extremity and an open extremity secured to said body intermediate its ends and partitioning said chamber into first and second sections respectively communicating with said first and second valves; said diaphragm member assuming first and second terminal positions respectively maximizing and minimizing said first section of said chamber by having its enclosed displaceable extremity pass through its open secured extremity; said first section being adapted to contain a dispensablersubstance for expulsion through said first valve upon displacement of said member toward said second terminal position; said member being progressively and cumulatively displaced toward said second terminal position with each compressing or" said body.

6. In a dispensing device; a resilient and flexible body enclosing a chamber, and having first normally closed outlet and second normally open inlet valves; and a controllably reversing diaphragm member within said chamber having an enclosed displaceable extremity and an tionsrespectively communicating with said first and secnd valves; said diaphragm member assuming first and second terminal positions respectively maximizing and minimizing said first section of said chamber by having its enclosed displaceable extremity pass through its open secured extremity; said first section being adapted to con tain a dispensable substance for expulsion through said first valve upon displacement of said member toward said second terminal position; said member being displaced toward said second terminal position upon the compressing of said body. a 7. In a dispensing device; a resilient and flexible bod enclosing a chamber, and having first normally closed outlet and second normally open inlet valves; and a con trollably reversing diaphragm member within said chamher having an enclosed displaceable extremity andan open extremity secured to said body intermediate its ends and partitioning said chamber into first and second sections respectively communicating with said first and second valves; said diaphragm member assuming first and second terminal positions respectively maximizing and minimizing said first section of said chamber by having its enclosed displaceable extremity pass through its open secured extremity; said first section being adapted to contain a dis pensable substance for expulsion through said first valve upon displacement of said member toward said second terminal position; said member being progressively and cumulatively displaced toward said second terminal position with each compressing of said body.

8. In a dispensing device; a resilient and flexible body adapted to be compressed by hand enclosing a chamber, and having first and second orifices; said second orifice being adapted to be covered and restricted by a portion of the hand placed over the second orifice when said body is compressed; and a flexible diaphragm member within said chamber having an enclosed extremity secured at one end of said tubular body and an openextremity secured at the other end of said body; said diaphragm member partitioning said chamber into first and second sections respectively communicating with said first and second orifices and moving between first and second terminal positions; said first terminal position being assumed when said member lies adjacent the inner surface bounding said chamber maximizing the volume of said first section while said second terminal position is assumed when said member is displaced to minimize the volume of said first section; said first section being adapted to contain a dispensable substance for expulsion through said first orifice upon displacing of said member towards said second terminal position; said member being progressively and cumulatively displaced an incremental distance toward said second terminal position with each restricting of said second orifice by hand with the compressing of said body by said hand.

9. In a dispensing device; a resilient and flexible body enclosing a chamber, and having first normally closed outlet and second normally open inlet valves; and a flexible coutractibly collapsible and non-reversing type diaphragm member within said chamber having an enclosed extremity secured at one end of said tubular body and an open extremity secured at the other end of said body; said diaphragm member partitioning said chamberinto first and second sections respectively communicating with said first and second valves and moving between first and second terminal positions; said first terminal position being assumed when said member lies adjacent, the, inner surface bounding said chamber maximizing the volume of said first section while said second terminal position is assumed when said member is contractibly collapsed to minimize the volume of said first section; said first section being adapted to contain a dispensable substance for expulsion through said first valve upon the collapsing of said member an incremental distance toward said second terminal position; said member being progressively and cumulatively collapsed towards said second terminal position with each compressing of said body.

References ones in the file or this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Harrison Aug. 26, 1952 

